The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is a not-for-profit association representing more than 7000 Australian veterinarians working in private practice, government, industry, and academia. The AVA was mooted before the First World War but not founded until 1921. The nineteenth century predecessor organisation was the Australasian Veterinary Medical Association.
Prominent veterinarians who have been members of the Australian Veterinary Association include Professor J.D. Stewart (who was the first AVA President), Ian Clunies Ross (former head of the CSIRO), and parasitologist Hugh Gordon.
The AVA provides information resources, continuing education opportunities, publications, public education programs, and professional support. The AVA also advocates for the profession to government on a number of fronts. Special interest groups (SIGs) have existed within the AVA since the early 1960s. These include groups dedicated to equine medicine, cattle, practice management, avian health, sheep, conservation and animal welfare. Some of the special interest groups publish their own peer reviewed journals. The Australian Veterinary History Society is a division of the association. Recent lobbying efforts include, HECS debt relief for rural veterinarians, mental health awareness in the veterinary profession, advocating for veterinarians as essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic and research into the deadly Hendra Virus.
The AVA has published the Australian Veterinary Journal since 1925.
Past and current presidents 2026–present: Dr Diana Barker 2025–2026: Dr Gemma Chuck 2024–2025: Dr Sally Colgan 2023–2024: Dr Diana Barker 2023: Dr Alistair Webb (resigned August 2023) 2022–2023: Dr Bronwyn Orr 2020–2022: Dr Warwick Vale 2019–2020: Dr Julia Crawford 2017–2019: Dr Paula Parker 2015–2017: Dr Robert Johnson 2012–2014: Dr Ben Gardiner 2010–2012: Dr Barry Smyth 2008–2010: Dr Mark Lawrie 2007–2008: Dr Dianne Sheehan 2006–2007: Dr Kersti Seksel 2005–2006: Dr Matt Makin 2004–2005: Dr Norm Blackman 2002–2003: Dr Joanne Sillince 2001–2002: Dr Robert Baker 2000–2001: Dr Ian Denney 1999–2000: Dr Garth McGilvray 1998–1999: Dr Geoffrey Niethe 1997–1998: Dr Roger Clarke 1996–1997: Dr Bill Scanlan 1995–1996: Dr Pamela Scanlon 1994–1995: Dr Michael Banyard 1993–1994: Dr Jakob Malmo 1991–1992: Dr John Plant 1989–1990: Dr Ian Fairnie 1988–1989: Professor Mary Barton 1987–1988: Dr Russell Duigan 1986–1987: Dr Terence Collins 1985–1986: Dr David Lindsay 1983–1984: Dr Jack Arundel 1982–1983: Dr Helen Jones 1981–1982: Dr Bryan Woolcock 1980–1981: Dr William Pryor 1978–1979: Dr Ian Pearson 1966–1967: Dr Bruce Eastick
Past notable board members Sam McMahon, an Australian politician for the Country Liberal Party and a Senator for the Northern Territory in the Parliament of Australia in 2019, served on the board from 2004-2009.
References